Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

In the current state of affairs, where we have a State railway, an improvement notice for safety considerations has enormous weight. I do not see how a railway concern could refuse to implement measures because of commercial considerations. If we had a privatised railway, God forbid, the danger might be very real. I do not object to the idea that certain freight companies might run freight across the railway to the extent that Iarnród Éireann is unwilling to do so. I refer primarily to passenger privatised railway. In the case of a State company, a public accountable authority, there would have to be an overwhelming practical or technical reason it would not comply with regulations.